Traditions and development, shared by MGERB

23/09/08


In honour of 22 september 2008 and celebrating 100 years of the Bulgarian independence, Monika Panayotova, Chairwoman of MGERB and Tsvetan Tsvetanov, Chairman of GERB together with young people from all the country put a wreath on the monument of the unknown soldier. After that they headed for the hall for the closing part of the second session of the political academy that started in the end of August.


45 representatives of the youth organization of the party from all te regions were being trained during 3 days in rhetorics and conducting political debates. Lecturers of the training were Mr. Gotfrid Linn – representative of ‘Konrad Adenauer’ Foundation and Dr. Todor Chobanov. The political academy happens due to the assistance of Hanns Seidel Foundation and Mr. Bogdan Mirchev – representative of the Foundation for Bulgaria.




On the closure of the session that took place yesterday in Central Park hotel was also Mr.Tsvetan Tsvetanov who received festive badges, made by the youth organization from Vratsa especially for the day of 100 years of Independence. He emphasized that he was unusually contented by the way young people were selected and remarked that the knowledge received during the political academy would be of great importance, because exactly from those participating in it, would have to enter in the future lists for general and European elections. The foreign guest pointed out that after those three days spent with youth from GERB, he was positive about the future of the party. The Bulgarian lecturers replied that according to them, they were sure about the future of our country.

The next training as a part of the academy will be on the topic: political culture and will take place in October.

MGERB continues political academy of PP GERB

21/09/08

In the period 20-22 September 2008 the Youth organization of PP GERB holds the second round of trainings as a part of the Political Academy of PP GERB on ‘Rhetorics and conducting negotiations’, kindly financed by ‘Hanns Seidel’ Foundation, Blgaria.

The training was opened on 20 September 2008 at 9.00 by Monika Panayotova, Chairwoman of MGERB and Dr. Gotfrid Linn – lecturer of ‘Konrad Adenauer’ Foundation from Germany and Dr. Todor Chobanov.

Among the main subjects in the training are: rules of political rhetorics, public speaking, political debates, discussions.

On Monday in Central Park Hotel at 13.00 the training will be closed by Mr. Tsvetan Tsvetanov, chairman of PP GERB, Mr. Radoslav Tochev, international secretary of PP GERB and Mr. Bogdan Mirchev, representative of ‘Hanns Seidel’ Foundation for Bulgaria.

M.Panayotova: On corruption and irresponsibility the Cabinet has an excellent mark

16/09/08

Monika Panayotova is only 24 years old, but is already leader of the youth in GERB. She held this post from this year and she is filled with enthusiasm and will for work and changes. She graduated international relations at UNWE, speaks French and English and has a working knowledge of Spanish. She likes travelling, Celine Dion and her favourite film is ‘Brave heart’.


- Was it some kind of a surprise for you the start of the new political season? Will the expectations for ‘hot’ autumn and winter come true?
- Unfortunately I was not surprised, because after the report of the European Commission in July, neither the behaviour, nor the manners of the ruling centre and mostly of the prime minister changed. The start of the political season was marked by promises reposes for a small part of the pensioners, with black PR and attacks against our leader and party. I don’t think that this is what citizens expect, so I’m happy for the fact that our party follows an European model of behaviour, based on the facts and transparence together with you – the media and with the participation of the citizens, although this is so difficult for us in the current situation. Both campaigns that we started in EPP format, as well as this one with young people for so called ‘Democratic exams’ aim exactly to show the opinion of people. Yes, unfortunately, we expect really ‘hot’ but not cosy autumn and winter, unless the rulers surprise us positively.

- How the youth GERB will warm up the situation?
- I wouldn’t like people to remain with the impression that we warm up the situation. Unfortunately, it is hot enough and the current policy of the government keeps ceaselessly the fire. What we strive for with young people is to give people an opportunity to express in a delicate way their discontent of the situation in the country. As an organization that started its growth first as a civil association and after that developed into political, we have always been part of the active civil society, which when face mistakes has the awareness and will to notice them

- You gave student books to the ministers or more exactly to some of the ministers from the cabinet. It was the idea of the initiative that the ministers have no right to make more mistakes, order-remarks and poor marks. At the same time the subjects on which you examine them are: ‘Corruption’, ‘Irresponsibility’, ‘Hypocrisy’, ‘Abuse of authority’, ‘Transparence’, ‘Responsibility’, ‘Justice’ and ‘Succession’. Yet, those ‘students’ have already been for three years at the school of government. How do these students from the cabinet perform so far?
- The idea of the initiative focuses in conducting a local referendum each month that young people will organize in the constituency from which the relevant minister is elected. By this way the mark that the minister will receive would be of great importance from the people, who voted for them and with whom, being elected and coming in Sofia, they lose real contact. In regard of this in the end of the month in all regions there will be spread inquiries in the form of student books, in which citizens could estimate the work of the government on the mentioned subjects from poor to excellent. We have also created a group in facebook where young people can expose their opinion, as they’re every day informed about the activity of the ‘students’, expressed in the media. That’s why on the last page of the student books it was marked for the ministers – ‘no right for correction’ or what we very well realize in GERB is that the Council of ministers is not a school. Although at some extent it is turned into a school by the government, it is a place where all have to be well prepared as experts and also with clear sense of responsibility for the voters and for the political party, from which they are suggested.

- Who are the excellent and poor students? What kind of ‘student’ is the leader in the class – Sergei Stanishev?
- Counting about 500 000 filled orders for dismissal of the government, headed by the leader in the class, what kind of student do you think he is, and when the class is ruled by him we could hardly have higher result?! Actually on corruption, irresponsibility and abuse of authority he has, I could say excellent results, but on responsibility and transparence definitely not.

- They all however have the desire to ‘repeat’ school, namely to receive another mandate. How will you fight with those wanting to repeat?
- Exactly because we suppose that they would like to repeat, we expressly emphasized ‘no right for correction’. (smile) One of the most important aspects of this school is the training for democracy. As a right party, one of our main values and leading principle is the liberal democracy – liberal because it exists in accordance to the law and democracy, or namely in accordance with citizens.

- As parent in the student books of the adult students you wrote Ahmed Dogan as the mandate was given to him. How does he perform as a parent?
- Definitely he is a guardian.


- Why financier №1 Plamen Oresharski was so angry on your joke? He commented that he didn’t need student book, because his student years had passed long ago.
- Maybe he doesn’t have sense of humour or simply he realizes the importance of the problem, although presented in a delicate and playful way and that’s why he automatically took a defensive position. We weren’t angry on him.

- At the same time GERB started also a protest subscription campaign that is an order for dismissal of the government of the three-party coalition. The campaign is under the title – ‘I am european’. How is going the collecting of signatures so far and what are the expectations?
- The signatures are multiplying by hours and this shows that the citizens are really not contented and I’m happy that they share this. There are also members of BSP among those who are signing and this means that the subscription reflects correctly the opinion of the citizens for the situation in the country, but not the opinion of some parties. I want very much to see more active citizens with clear position so that each government to have a permanent civil control.

- Would you watch in this critical way the activity of your party if it wins the elections or you’ll be indulgent?
- We are definitely as very critical, also very self-critical. The good thing in our party is that we can express freely our opinion, to give suggestions which are not treated as something of small importance or uncomfortable truth, but are considered. This is a clear example that we are a party in progress and party with principles. Another example confirming this position are the moral declarations that were signed by our nominees for the local elections and on whose base some of them are not already with us.

- As youth from GERB do you have any contacts with other young people from the right-wing?
- Yes, we have in the aspect of the big family of the European People’s Party and the centre-right European student field.

- Do you know young left people? They also describe themselves as Europeans. Do they have grounds to claim this?
- Personally I don’t know representatives of young lefts. My impression for them is based on what they demonstrate as behaviour, negative messages and continuous black PR against our leader. I suppose that there are also young people in BSP who are not so bitter but unfortunately the party uses them in this negative way and instead of spending so much on the Internet site of our leader, on negative initiatives and parties, to invest in their development. I’m happy that the energy and abilities of the youth in GERB is accumulating in training seminars, research and civil initiatives with positive message that express our values – tolerance, responsibility, family, freedom and liberal democracy. The fact that they define themselves as Europeans is very good, now however they have to behave as Europeans, because after our acceptance in the EU we are all European citizens, but the identification – European requires a definite type of behaviour and thinking.

MGERB started Political academy

30/08/08


The youth organization of PP GERB started first round of trainings that will be in five sections in the context of the so called Political academy of PP GERB. There is a group of 45 participants – young people representing all the regions in the country, who were selected in advance on CV and after that submitted to tests, made and evaluated by qualified psychologists and experts.
Political academy of PP GERB started in August this year in Veliko Tarnovo with the first summer university of GERB on the topic: Young voice in European Bulgaria.
Today it was officially opened by the chairman of PP GERB Tsvetan Tsvetanov and the representative of ‘Hanns Seidel’ foundation for Bulgaria – Bogdan Mirchev. In his address to the young people Mr. Tsvetanov emphasized on the role of young people in the socio-political life. ‘The aim of the political academy, that we organized, is to train you in order to recognize your strong and weak points, to be able to react in critical situations and to be adequate at the challenges that you face while participating in the political life. The policy of PP GERB is an investment in young people, so that the idea of this training is to prepare you in a best way, because as you know the party will select forward its personnel among you.

‘Democratic exams for the Bulgarian government’ – national campaign of MGERB

28/08/08


In the beginning of the new political season, MGERB started national campaign ‘Democratic exams for the Bulgarian government’. During this national campaign active members of MGERB, members and sympathizers of GERB as well as all Bulgarian citizens will put marks about the Bulgarian government’s work.

The main subjects that will be rated are: corruption, abuse of authority, arbitrariness, hypocrisy, transparency, responsibility, fairness and succession.

To express its evaluation MGERB made real student’s books for all the ministers and the premier. In the space for ‘parent’ youngsters wrote the name of Ahmed Dogan because the mandate for forming a government was given to MRF. The European Union is written in the space for ‘principal’, because the Union gives the marks for the work of government. The electoral commission is formed by all Bulgarian citizens.

There is a label sticked in the space for term, yearly marks and for supplementary exams, on which together with the logo of MGERB is written ‘No right for correction’
In the books can be written marks for incompetence, unprofessionalism and lack of adequacy of governing.

Citizens could also write unexcused absences for the members of the Cabinet for their lack of touch with the current problems in Bulgaria – e.g. the permanent absence of minster Emel Etem from the areas, hit by crisis and natural disasters.

Young people of GERB will formulate and add to the list with supplementary subjects, according to the current blunders of the Bulgarian government that continuously face our society.

The aim of this campaign is to express unambiguously and clearly the opinion of the young people in Bulgaria and all Bulgarian people for the work of the Bulgarian government. Everyone who wants to express opinion and give mark can address to the national and local structures of MGERB.

‘Young voice in European Bulgaria’ – national initiative of MGERB

15/08/08





The youth organization of PP GERB (MGERB) with the kind assistance of ‘Hanns Seidel’ foundation organized Summer university on the topic: Youth voice in European Bulgaria. The event took place in Veliko Tarnovo in the period of 14-17 August 2008 in Interhotel Veliko Tarnovo.

The participants in the Summer university of MGERB, which we hope will become tradition of our organization, were selected by one representative of the regional executive councils and one representative of the regional organization of MGERB.

‘The aim of the Summer university of MGERB is to contribute by interactive sessions and exchange of experience and ideas for new knowledge, skills and good practices, connected with political culture, campaign management and the successful activity of organizations’ told the Chairwoman of MGERB Monika Panayotova in her address to the participants. The opening was attended by the Chairman of GERB Tsvetan Tsvetanov and the International secretary Radoslav Tochev. ‘You are the capital of GERB, you’re those who will govern, you are future deputies and ministers’, said the Chairman of GERB Tsvetan Tsvetanov to the participants. Tsvetanov emphasized on the necessity of succession in the structure of the party and also the need for the Youth organization to exist actively. The project ‘Summer university’ is a basis, on which the bank of young successful personnel of PP GERB will develop.

After the formal opening, the Summer university started with the first lecture – ‘Electoral systems and campaign management’. Lecturer in this session was Mrs. Iskra Fidosova – member of the EC of PP GERB. The seminar took place till 17-th August. The young politicians listened for Campaign management – good European practices, in the aspect of the Bulgarian situation, lecturer Bogdan Mirchev – Director of ‘Hanns Seidel’ Foundation for Bulgaria, for ‘How the reforms are conducted in Freance. Theory and practice of the process of reforms’ – lecturer Raphael del Rey – expert from the French people’s party. The summer academy presented also lectures on: Main right principles and values and their promotion at the time of campaign – lecturer Radoslav Tochev – International secretary of PP GERB. It was also organized a session about the way we can be effective in communication, in which Rumyana Bachvarova – Executive manager of sociological agency ‘Market links’ was lecturer. There was also a lecture ‘Psychology of influence’ by Prof. Rumen Stamatov – Vice-dean in Plovdiv University ‘Paisii Hilendarski’.

MGERB received an observer status in the organization of the European Democrat Students (EDS)

18/07/08

The nice impressions of the leaders of the European Democrat Students after their visit in June 2008 in Bulgaria, gave opportunity for the Youth organization of PP GERB to apply for observer membership and after a year for full membership in EDS. During the Summer University of EDS that took place on 15-20 July in Malta and in which Monika Panayotova – Chairwoman of MGERB and Hristo Gadzhev – International secretary of MGERB participated, the application letter for membership of the Youth organization of PP GERB in the biggest right-oriented student organization in Europe was considered. After presentation of the organization, made by the Chairwoman of MGERB Monika Panayotova in which she declared the strong desire of MGERB for work in the right student field in Europe and particularly on the Balkans and if she had to describe the Youth organization by three main points, they would be – sharp mind and new ideas, energy and synergy; work and real activity, 29 delegats – representatives of different youth and student organization of leading right parties in Europe voted unanimously so that MGERB to receive an observer status. Along with the voting about the status of the candidat – organizations, elections for new president and vice-presidents of EDS were held. As a president of EDS was elected Thomas Uhlen from Germany and by his proposal the ex-president Ana Janine from Portugal received a status of honorary president.

MGERB – Sofia organized swimming contest ‘Fair play’

23/06/08

MGERB – Sofia organized on 22.06.2008 a swimming contest – ‘Fair play’. The event was in honour of 23 June – the International Olympic day and took place in ‘Balgarska armia’ swimming complex with the assistance of the National Sports association of the Ministry of Defence. In the contest participated representatives from all district organizations of PP GERB in Sofia, from MGERB and from Sofia City Council. The event had the aim to unite at higher extent those working in the different districts of Sofia, to express the priorities of MGERB in sport and to emphasize on values such as solidarity, tolerance, team spirit and fair play that contribute to our personal development and realization. First place in the contest for men was won by the representative from Bankya district – Boris Georgiev. In the contest for women the first place was for the representative from Vitosha district and youngest contestant – Evelina Ilieva and the second place was for the representative from the SCC – Teodora Tomova.

Right policy – one year after EU accession of Bulgaria and before the European elections 2009

16/06/08

International conference of European Democrat Student and MGERB in Bulgaria

During 11-15 June 2008 with the kind assistance of Konrad Adenauer Foundation – Sofia was held a four-day international conference of the Youth organization of PP GERB (MGERB) and the biggest student organization in Europe, the so called European Democrat Students (EDS).

The subject of the event, that took place in Plovdiv (11-14 June) and in Sofia (14-15 June) was: Right policy – one year after the accession of Bulgaria in EU and before the European Elections 2009. It was connected with the so called ‘Policy days’/ ‘Study trip’ of the European Student Democrat and had the aim to:

* at one side to get the participants acquainted with the challenges in front of the new right policy in Bulgaria, as well as to emphasize on the active participation that our country in the presence of MGERB could take in the student field on the Balkans.
* at the other side to get the participants (40 representatives of different European countries) acquainted with the challenges facing right policy from both sides of the Atlantic one year before the elections for European parliament.

After a short welcoming speech from the Chairwoman of EDS – Ana Janine, the Chairwoman of MGERB Monika Panayotova and the International secretary of PP GERB – Radoslav Tochev addressed to the guests from Germany, Austria, Portugal, France, Hungary, Poland, Cyprus, Norway, Croatia, Serbia, Ukraine, the program started with description of the challenges facing new right policy in Bulgaria. Rumyana Bachvarova, executive director of sociological agency ‘Market links’ pointed out that the main crisis, existing in Bulgaria, is the fact that we had many right voters and few effective parties, low electoral support, organizational weakness and lack of clear right cause. With regard to this she specified that at the moment only PP GERB was an exception and had right political program and 60% support of the right voters. After describing the challenges in front of the right-wing in Bulgaria and namely:

* lack of ideas
* necessity of new right youth policy
* necessity for the contemporary right policy to be oriented to the human resources
* building and restoring the political traditions of the right-wing
* creation of branch policy
* formulation of political theory
* applying much more policy, that is ‘right’

Mrs. Bachavarova concluded that the success of the Bulgarian right would be also success for the European right.

In order to inform the EDS about the Youth organization of PP GERB was made a presentation of MGERB, from its beginning, establishment till now.

In response to the above mentioned challenges the Chairwoman of MGERB Monika Panayotova and the International secretary Radoslav Tochev suggested to their colleagues from EDS setting up a Balkan European student net by presenting the idea of forming the so called ‘Balkan Erasmus’. The project aims by education and intercultural dialogue to start a process for overcoming the negative stereotypes and convictions, created by years between Balkan peoples. By the accent that Balkan peoples have more common that unite than divide the MGERB proposal consists of making two-week visits of 100 students with full scholarship in universities from the region. It was accepted by the representatives of EDS with clearly expressed desire for the idea to develop and be enlarged.

On the next day the participants had the opportunity to become acquainted with interactive analysis of the ‘American elections in the aspect of the coming European elections, as well as the ways of promoting right values’, made by Patrick Egan, Director of the International Republican Institute for Central and East Europe.

At the same time the program included presentation of our country, its treasures and cultural variety, counting the fact that 2008 was announced by the EU as a year of intercultural dialogue.

Arriving in Sofia the participants were welcomed in the Assembly hall of the Sofia City Council by Malina Edreva – chairwoman of the councilors group from PP GERB and Irina Yordanova - Chirwoman of the Commission for European integration in SCC. The European Democrat students had the opportunity to receive interesting answers and comments by the councillors and district mayors from GERB about local and European issues.

During the formal supper, by which the international conference ended, the leader of GERB and Mayor of Sofia Boyko Borisov greeted the young people.

As a result MGERB received the opportunity to apply for membership in EDS as soon as the conference was over, in order that the application be considered in July 2008 during the Summer university of the European Democrat Students in Malta.

The positive reports, addressed to the organizers, created basis for future common initiatives and cooperation with the participants, at the position of representatives of EDS, as well as those of their national youth organizations.

The conference was widely reflected in the local and national media.

‘Value for every child’ – initiative of MGERB

02/06/08

In honour of 1-st of June – International day of children, MGERB organized an initiative under the topic of ‘Value for every child’. The initiative aimed to emphasize on the responsibility and concern that we had to the future of Bulgaria – our children. For us, young people from PP GERB, the European democratic values – peace, justice, responsibility, security, respect, family and traditions must be leading in the attitude toward adolescents, as well as toward adults. For that purpose yesterday around the National Palace of Culture and in the South Park the youngsters gave thousands of messages, focusing on the idea that every day is holiday for children and every day they need our support and care.

Annual report for the activity of MGERB

May 2008

‘United in Diversity’ – national campaign of MGERB

26/05/08

In honour of 24-th May – day of Slavic alphabet and culture, and the year 2008, announced as European year of multicultural dialogue, the youth organization of MGERB prepared and distributed in the whole country more than ten thousand cards. The aim of MGERB was to emphasize on the necessity of our society to return to the values that more frequently have to be in the ground of our actions and relations. With respect for the traditions of our country, the young people of PP GERB consider that what unites all of us, irrespective of our ethnic, national, religious and cultural diversity, are the values, shared also by the family of the European People’s Party – peace, justice, responsibility for our actions, for people around us, for the environment in which we live, family, traditions, (European) identity, citizenship.

First national conference of MGERB – ‘The new right policy – local and European dimension’ 16-17 May 2008, Stara Zagora

18/05/08

On 16 and 17 May 2008 in Stara Zagora the Youth organization of PP GERB held its first national conference under the title – ‘The new right policy – local and European dimension’.

Democratic values that MGERB support

09/05/08

As Young Citizens for European Development of Bulgaria (MGERB in Bulgarian)
we would like to start talking about values in our country.

As new members of the European family we would like more frequently
in the European Union to be spoken about Europe of values.

We would like to share with you our values
those of the family of the European People’s Party that we hope will become yours!

Youth GERB and the Chairman of the party Tsvetan Tsvetanov cleaned the park in front of the National Palace of Culture (NDK)

12/04/08

The youth GERB and the Chairman of the party Tsvetan Tsvetanov took part in the traditional spring cleaning of the area in front of NDK. 45 young members of GERB gathered and cleaned together the area in front of the palace. The campaign is traditional and is part of the initiative of Sofia Municipality ‘Clean with me’. Together with the young people the Chairman of PP GERB Tsvetan Tsvetanov took active participation in the cleaning. There were the park area in front of NDK, the public parking, as well as the around the old zoo that were cleaned. Illegally formed places full with rubbish, indicated in advance by the Inspector office together with the mayor of Triaditsa district Evtim Evtimov, who also helped in cleaning. At last, after the park in front of NDK was cleaned, the Youth GERB and the Chairman of the party Tsvetan Tsvetanov planted a tree – ‘tuya’, for which they would care in future.

PP GERB established its youth organization. Borisov: GERB will work for its own government and parliamentary group.

24/02/2008

We will work for our own government. This was said by the leader of GERB Boyko Borisov at the official establishment of the youth organization of GERB in NDK. He also said that there wouldn’t be pre-election coalitions for which he guaranteed. Borisov also told young members of GERB that by the establishment of MGERB the necessary human potential of the party was secured. At least 30 to 40% of you must be in the next government so that the old faces in politics be not there more, he added. And we with Mr. Tsvetanov would be in the group of seniors and you would have to work without us, Borisov joked in this regard. The leader of GERB was welcomed by strong applause in the hall and all the people stood up. After that was the national anthem and the anthem of the party. The young people were greeted also by the Chairman Tsvetan Tsvetanov, who said that the members of MGERB would be a main mediator between the party and young people in Bulgaria. He added that this organization was a way for overcoming political apathy among youth. Borisov called on young people to work so that the party GERB to exist decades ahead. He appealed the members of MGERB to work so that their young coevals who lived and studied abroad return at home. About 1000 delegates participated in the establishment of the youth organization of party GERB. In the statute of Youth GERB is written that members can be only people under 31 years of age. Young people elected as their Chairwoman – Monika Panayotova, 24 years old from Sofia. She graduated International economic relations in UNWE. At the meeting was also read a letter of congratulations from the president of the EPP Wilfrid Martens, in which he declared to the youth organization of the party that they were young leaders of Bulgaria and they would determine the future of Europe. In regard to this Borisov commented that those who knew the president of EPP were aware how calm and poor of useless emotions he was. During the last months Martens put so much emotion in GERB. ‘I am convinced that there isn’t other youth party that received such letter’, Borisov said.